How common is OCD?

Our best estimates are that about 1 in 100 adults—or between 2–3 million adults in the United States—currently have OCD. This is roughly the same number of people living in the city of Houston, Texas.

Lifetime estimates (the number of individuals that develop OCD over the course of their lifetime) are that about 1 in 50 adults—or 4–6 million adults in the United States—have OCD.

There are also at least 1 in 200—or 500,000—kids and teens that have OCD. This is about the same number of kids who have diabetes.

This means four or five kids with OCD are likely to be enrolled in any average sized elementary school. In a medium to large high school, there could be 20 studens struggling with the challenges caused by OCD.

OCD affects men, women and children of all races and backgrounds equally.